Annual Import and Export Compliance Training

Based on the answers provided, certain UTMB employees are required to take the Annual Import and Export Compliance Training Course. Likely candidates for the training are including but not limited to researchers, faculty, graduate students, or persons who ship or receive materials from overseas.

Purpose of this Course
The intent of this course is to provide guidance to faculty members and researchers, in the application of import and export regulations and to increase due diligence by the administrative level of UTMB.

The purpose of this course is to increase awareness of U.S. import and export regulations and provide guidance to UTMB faculty members and researchers in their application, while increasing due diligence at the administrative and research levels.

Goals of this Course

Increased knowledge and compliance with the procedures for imports and exports, and

Awareness of the regulations concerning imports and exports.

Reasons for this Course

Due to tragic events, such as 9/11, the safety and well-being of our citizens and our shores has required heightened security measures. Consequently, the U.S. government is taking a closer look at universities' transactions with foreign entities.

There is a need for training in the fundamentals. For example, the research community may not know that any person or entity that violates import and export regulations could be subject to sanctions, fines, or imprisonment.

Furthermore, while most of our research and transactions do not fall under U.S. import and export scrutiny, researchers must know certain fundamental concepts involving U.S. import and export regulations to determine if a project is subject to such scrutiny

Who Must Comply With Federal Export/Import Rules:

Any UTMB researcher and staff member who:

receives biological or chemical materials, software or technology from foreign countries, or

Each employee is responsible for his/her behavior, and, as such, will be held accountable for any conduct which violates federal and state law or regulations, or UTMB policy. This training provides the framework within which all employees are expected to operate.

Course Content

Approximate time to complete this course is 1 hour. The modules will include brief definitions and explanations of the export and import rules and policies of UTMB, key governmental agencies, and penalties for violations. The modules are broken into 3 categories: Import Compliance, Export Compliance, and Obtaining a Material Transfer Agreement for transferring research materials outside of UTMB and the US. A quiz shall follow each module, and a final test will be given at the end of the program.